On May 15th, Moscow hosted the opening of the Mentoring program for aspiring entrepreneurs and the self-employed, registered and operating in the Moscow Region. 

The mentoring program is implemented by the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Science of the Moscow Region and the My Business Center of the Moscow Region within the framework of the national project "Small and Medium-sized Entrepreneurship" initiated by the President of Russia.

"Mentoring” has been implemented in the Moscow Region for the fifth year. More than 1.5 thousand people were trained, and the mentors were experts of their industry – almost 200 active experienced entrepreneurs," commented Ekaterina Zinovieva, the Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Investment, Industry and Science of the Moscow Region.

The program has two directions: for the self-employed and for beginner entrepreneurs. The training is designed for eight weeks and will end with the protection of business projects. According to the results, the jury will select seven winners in each category.

Within the framework of the program, mentors, entrepreneurs and experts will share their experience, tell how to launch and develop a business, along with the participants will go from an idea to the protection of a business plan, as well as conduct field trips to the company. The experience of the past years shows that students manage to successfully apply their knowledge in practice. As a result – an increase in turnover, revenue and the number of employees of companies.

On the first day, the program participants have already learned how to launch a brand in the new realities of the market, as well as about working business tools in the fashion market segment. The special guests of the opening were Russian actor, film director, choreographer Egor Druzhinin and honored sport master of Russia Egor Eremeev.

"Today, the number of SMEs in the region totals more than 428 thousand, and self–employed - almost 529 thousand people. The constant growth of the Moscow Region provides a wide range of state support measures for both existing entrepreneurs and those starting their activities. And projects such as Mentoring always give an additional impetus to growth and development. I am sure that upon completion of the training, more than a dozen or even hundreds of new interesting business projects will appear in the Moscow Region," commented Vladimir Golovnev, the Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Entrepreneurs in the Moscow Region.